This topic has been discussed in the past and, given the transport strike jeepney operators, along with tricycles and taxis, are conducting, the public is once again being subject to the cries of those in the industry claiming they are only trying to maintain a “livelihood.” On the surface, a massively oversaturated industry sector with fairly flimsy government regulation and poorly-paid workers is a matter to be looked into; however, when encountering said workers on the job, one would not automatically assume this was some “oppressed” sector of the population.
Last year, penned an article that asked, “Jeepney and tricycle operators have no regard for others, why care for their welfare?” The piece pointed out the lack of courtesy such drivers have, highlighting the practice of making sudden stops to let passengers on and off, along with trying to rush ahead when vehicles behind them try to drive around them.
The painfully slow speed tricycle drivers operate at was also a sticking point as if creates both inconvenience and poses a hazard.
Later that year, also wrote about a confrontation with a jeepney driver switching between driving between lanes and slowly idling in the passing lane and not allowing anybody around. The exchange included this anecdote: “Since he was blocking the passing lane at such a slow speed, honked the horn to suggest he move aside. Clearly, he did not like that. After moving into one lane, while passing, he pulled back his side curtain to give a look. Rolled down the window and asked if there was a problem. He expressed his consternation at being honked at. Informed him there are two lanes and he was in the middle. His irritated response of ‘Gani!’ spoke volumes… it was his way of letting me know he was fully aware of what he was doing.”
Now, they’re back in front of the media begging the public for sympathy; one of the groups involved was even quoted as saying, “Indi lang ni problema sang driver kag operator, problema ini sang bug-os nga pumoluyo (This is not just a problem for drivers and operators, it’s a problem for the entire public).” Driving obsolete vehicles that spew plumes of black smoke is not the public’s problem, that’s an irresponsible industry and lazy government oversight.
The previous articles told stories of various occurrences while approaching the flyover in Bacolod City’s Barangay Bata in 2018. Just last week, along the same stretch of road, the same self-righteous attitudes were still very much present.
Entering Bacolod City from Talisay City, while merging into the lane to avoid the flyover, was nearly struck by a jeepney swiftly exiting the depot along that side of the highway. A typical move, not one glance at possible oncoming traffic—clearly, they’re “superior.”
After getting passed that driver, merged left in anticipation of executing a left turn; however, while turning, a different jeepney suddenly appeared on the right and sped around the make a left in front of my vehicle; given it was now the second near-miss within one minute, executed the same maneuver on him, swerved around him to get in first, and what happened? He got mad and slammed on the horn. He put the jeepney driver’s mindset in clear view: I’m allowed to cut you off but you can’t do that to me.
He then proceeded to try driving side-by-side with my car after turning onto Circumferential Road but it didn’t last long because a tricycle was blocking one of the lanes. Instead of the normal method of executing a U-turn—wait for ample space and the road to clear before making the turn—their typical style is to turn whenever they feel like it. This tricycle was now blocking an entire lane of traffic while waiting for cars on the other side to clear. Gave him a honk and what did he do? He literally screamed back in anger and glared at the car—the tricycle driver is blocking traffic and inconveniencing others yet HE is the one that’s angry?
To think, those three incidents all occurred within a few minutes of each other and that’s any given day along the streets of Bacolod City.
Personally, I’m not buying into the sympathy game. These are people that have proven—day after day—they have no concern for anybody outside themselves. They swerve back and forth between lanes of traffic with no regard for the safety of others sharing the road; they force themselves in front in EVERY instance, whether it’s trying to beat a car trying to maneuver around them, racing to pick up a passenger along the side of the road, and even crossing into the intersection in an effort to be first when the light turns green; and, while they will cut off other drivers in a heartbeat, they express consternation if the same is done to them (do unto others).
In addition, the public transport industry has already revealed the protests could be ramped up with a representative from one of the transport groups stating, “Ang ining September 30 isa lang ni ka adlaw pero preparasyon lang ni sa mas mabaskog nga hulag kon magapabilin nga bungol ang ini nga gobyerno sa pagpamati sang sentimiento sang mga drivers (This September 30 is just one day but there are preparations for a bigger event if the government refuses to listen to the drivers).”
They plea for compassion from the public, expect the government to conform to their demands, all the while taking to the roads as if there were nobody else in the world. The arrogance and self-importance expressed by the maniacs behind the wheels of those archaic and heavily-pollutant jalopies are in no way deserving of sympathy./WDJ